Post navigation

Friday, July 23–FBI, WCBI Probe Leads To Local Porn Charges

BERLIN
– A Berlin man was arrested on possession and distribution of child pornography
charges last week after a months-long investigation by the Worcester County
Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) and an FBI investigation dating back to last
September.

In
January, WCBI detectives began investigating Kirt Barren Greenberg, 45, of
Berlin for an alleged violation of the Peeping Tom law. During the
investigation, it was learned a female juvenile had been residing at
Greenberg’s residence in Berlin on a temporary basis. Based on conversations
the victim had with Greenberg during her time at his residence, she believed
the suspect had videotaped her without her consent wearing little or no clothing.

Based
on interviews with the victim, WCBI detectives in late February executed a
search and seizure warrant on Greenberg’s Berlin home, recovering several
computer hard drives that have since been turned over to the Maryland State
Police Computer Crimes unit for analysis.

Through
the WCBI investigation, it was learned that last September, the FBI began a
parallel investigation into Greenberg’s possible possession and distribution of
child pornography. The FBI began investigating Greenberg when a special agent
had logged into a public website in an undercover capacity and was allegedly
invited by Greenberg to join his chat room.

Once
inside the chat room, the FBI special agent was able to download over 500
images of child pornography. Through its subsequent investigation, the FBI was
able to track the source of the child pornography to an Internet Protocol
address allegedly belonging to Greenberg. Based on images forwarded from the
FBI on the agency’s own investigation into Greenberg’s alleged actions, an arrest
warrant was obtained in Worcester County charging the suspect with possession
of child pornography and distribution of child pornography by computer.

Armed
with the warrant, WCBI detectives went to Greenberg’s Berlin residence last
Friday and arrested the suspect without incident. All in all, Greenberg has
been charged with 30 total counts of possession and distribution of child
pornography.

Greenberg
was taken before a District Court Commissioner after his arrest last Friday and
was ordered held on a $25,000 bond. He was released last Saturday after posting
the bond. A review of the Maryland Judiciary website reveals Greenberg has an
extensive criminal history. He was charged with assault in April and is
awaiting an August court date for the incident.